Will it ever warm up

1000 ENE F3, overcast, bright, c-c-c-cold....

People always find it amazing that I like the winter so much, maybe it is a bit bizarre, but even I am beginning to 'want' some real Spring weather to arrive....!  But I like the winter because of the variety of birds it brings, just as I love the Spring for the Nightingale that will sing.  To me the most evocative of any bird song I have ever heard...and to know they are not far away (geographically) is always a thrill at this time of year....
Mind you, I reckon this cold weather is putting the dampers on a lot of things.  Plants seem to be struggling through, there was some Colts Foot out last week at the gravel pits, but I have seen reports of Alexanders that seems to be refusing to grow too tall.....the last thing the birds, moths and butterflies need this year is another poor weather record...so lets hope....

Anyway, leaving the relative warmth of the car behind the House Sparrows chirped and chipped, some Collared Doves were attempting to make baby Collared Doves.  A Cormorant headed north toward the gravel pits.
The fence that I spoke of last time has now had its lower angled half buried under mud, though it still seems rather bizarre.  I will let them get on with it but it does seem a waste of time and effort when other things, more conservationally minded, could have been achieved with the amount of energy and time.
A Starling called from a distant chimney pot as a Blackbird inspected the hedgerow by the railway.  A Crow lolled across.  A Chaffinch called from a distant tree and some Goldfinch flew low across the orchard.  Two Robins chased around which I think was the issue with the Wren as it tick-ticked nearby.
A solitary Fieldfare was in the orchard, I saw 2 more later, flying across the gravel pits.  A Woodpigeon was in display flight and 2 Herring Gulls battled eastwards.
Heading out across the field it looked cold and by jolly wotsits it was cold.....the Skylark, about 5 or 6, were pretty half hearted about singing, though one or two duly obliged.  Amazingly the Jackdaw population, usually rather large and loud, was insignificant and relatively quiet with one or two going by a occasionally calling.
At the pits there were 4 Mallard, Shoveller 32, 36 Tufted Duck, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 25 Coot, Gadwall 6, 24 Black Headed Gull, a solitary Mute Swan in a ditch by the pits though 3 more on the pits, 1 Water Rail called, 13 Cormorant, 2 Canada Geese, 3 Herring Gull, 3 Common Gull, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Goldeneye, 1 male and 1 female displaying!
There were 2, though possibly 3, Chiffchaff around the pits today which was nice to see and hear (calling...not singing).  A Green Woodpecker sounded off and a few minutes later showed rather well.  A Jay called from a small copse and a Blue Tit and Dunnock were present.
After 90 minutes in the cold conditions I called it a day so the count is not complete.
Im certainly hoping that the 'promised' warmer weather (does anyone believe anything the Met Office say any more?) arrives at the weekend as I am hoping to do a much earlier visit next week.